Book-holder



(No Model.)

M. E. SPIELMAN.

BOOK HOLDER.

No. 603,663. Patented May 10,1898.

UNITED I STATES PATENT FFICE,

MAR Y E. SPIELMAN, OF ALMA, KANSAS.

BooK-HoLDER.

SPECIFICATION formilng' part of Letters Patent No. 608,663, dated May 10, 1898. Application filed .Tuly 3, 1897. Serial No. 643,426. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY E. SPIELMAN, of Alma, in the county of Wabaunsee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and o useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and

I do-hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a book-holder or clasp for holding the two parts of a book when opened at any desired page;

It consists in a spring-clasp adapted to be adjusted to the thickness of the part of the book to which it is to be applied, and the arms of which are adapted to securely hold the leaves of said part with sufficient elasticity to permit the leaves en gaged by them to be withdrawn for turning them when desired without danger of injury to the leaves, and in the combination of two clasps of the character described,. connected by a flexible cord or chain, which permits their ready adjustment to the two parts of a book for holding them, as hereinafter described 'and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the two clasps connected by the chain. Fig. 2 shows one of the clasps in side elevation, and Fg. 3 is a perspective view showing a modification in the adj listing devices connecting the arms of the clasp.

1 and 2 indicate two clasps made substantially alike, each provided With parallel elastic arms 3 3 of substantially uniform length 'and terminating at their shank ends in angular extensions 4 5, designed to overlap one the other to permit the relative adjustment of the arms 3 3 toward and away from each other. In the construction shown in Figs. 1- and 2 the arm 4 is provided with a longitudinal slot engaging a pin 7, pendent from the arm 5, the arm 4 also engaging guiding parallel lips extending down from said arm 5, between which the arm 4 moves, said lips serving to guide the arm 4 and prevent relative swinging of the arms 3 3.

8 indicates a thumb-screw passing through the arms 5 and 6 and engaging a nut 9 inside of the arm 4. By the adjustment of the thumb-screw 8 the arms 4 and 5 are adapted the elastic arms 3 to conform' to the thickness of the portion of the book to which said arms constituting the clasp are applied. The point ends of the arms 3 3 are bent outward away from each other or made to diverge in such manner as toifacilitate their ready passage over the portion of the book to which they are to be applied. The arms 3 are made of light elastic material such as perlnits them to yield readily for the slipping of the leaves from underneath the arms engaging them when desired and Without liability of injuring the leaves in removing them. These arms are made, preferably, of thin Strap-steel or other elastic metal such as will adapt them to yield readily in the manner described. In the clasp Fig. 3 the arm 5 isshown provided with a sleeve 11 on its inner face and the arm 4 extends within the sleeve and is adj ustable therein and adapted to be clasped and held by the thumb-screw 8,,which in this case does not require the nut 9 shown in the clasp 1.

Other suitable forms of construction for permitting the relative adj ustment of the arms and adapting them to the thickness of the portion of the book to which they are applied may be employed in lieu of those described.

The clasps 1 and 2 are preferably connected by a` light chain 12, which permits their adj ustment toward and away from each other in being applied to the opposite portions of a book. This chain may-be of any suitable material, either silver or gold, and the clasps themselves may be, like the chain, of any suitable material, according to the fancy of the manufacturer or user, and the chain 12 may be substituted by a light cord, if desired but thechain is preferred and in the present instance is shown connected with the eyes of the thumb-screws 8 employed in effecting the adjustment of the arms of the clasps 1 and 2.

By the construction described alight, simple, and effective clasp is provided which is adapted to hold the leaves of a book at any required page and to hold the two parts of the book in such manner` that the parts can be folded one upon the other for closing the book and still retain the marked place indicated by the clasp. The flaring ends of the IOO between the two clasps for permitting them to engage, one the parts of one side and the 15 other the parts of the other side of an open .book for holding said parts, substantially as described.

In testiinony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribzo ing witnesses.

MARY E. SPIELMAN.

Witnesses:

NELLIE HENDERsoN, J AMES M. LEE. 

